The picture shows some of the gardens of Hampton Court in all their glory. Hampton Court had been the private residence of Cardinal Wolsey, and was taken from him by King Henry VIII in 1529, when Wolsey fell from power. Anne Boleyn was the first mistress of the refurbished palace. The age of exploration brought many new plants -- among them tulips, lilacs, sunflowers, and nasturtiums -- into the English garden, which previously had bloomed with old favorites like primroses, daisies, columbine, roses, and the great favorite, "pinks" (carnations). Plants were grown as much for medicinal as for decorative use, and "every literate man or woman" would know what herbs could be distilled into what "simples" to cure what ailments. A grander home would have a stillroom, and a family its treasured recipes, for this purpose.

Google Me

Twenty years ago, I was writing (and publishing! huzzah!) deeply serious things for Commentary, First Things, and American Heritage. Remember the article damning Dr. Seuss as the most overrated children's book author ev-ah? That was me.

Then I started a wine blog called At First Glass, and after six years (New Year's Eve 2007-ditto 2013), despite proper efforts to keep it I lost access to my domain name. Blogger pulled the plug. I panicked and started Pluot that night, so as to have a place to import old posts, thirty or so at a time. This will account for the unusually mish-mash-y feel of Pluot's early life: Christmas here, springtime there, Thanksgiving wine pairings before summer "patio sippers." Jump drives are all very well, but my dear things -- my fatheads -- can't read those, can they?

So no more custom domain names for me. And I still do food, wine, beer, and cocktails. And I still publish myself. Welcome to Pluot. It's named for the plum/apricot cross. Huzzah.